After Virat Kohli, KL Rahul was the super batter that Indian cricket was looking for. Smart in every field be it Test, ODI, T20 and IPL… What a guy to watch the game… When he was at the top of his form, Rahul’s batting stood above Kohli. But when time cannot change Kolam and Koli continues, Rahu is a threat to Rahul. The growth of the Karnataka star has now reached its peak. Knives are clamoring around to cut it away. Tired of putting up with it, even if the game is lost, the fans are praying that Rahul will somehow get out soon. Can Rahul hold on? Will the elder Rahul in the team still protect the younger Rahul? While Shubman Gill, who is batting in the best form of his career, is waiting for his turn on the reserve bench, KL. Is Rahul in the safe zone? The remaining two Test matches of the Border – Gavaskar Trophy will be decided ‘for all’.
∙ Class star, no doubt
Not only Rahul Dravid’s name, but that technique, hole-blocking defense and vigilance at the crease were all intertwined in the disciple. KL is the one who scored centuries in Sydney, Jamaica, Centurion and Lodz and said that he is promising. There was a time when it seemed that Indian cricket would learn a great lesson by getting a new captain through this son of a Karnataka NIT professor. Despite all his chances of becoming a future captain, the selectors are still left with the thought that he is not a retail man, a rare talent like Kohli and Rohit Sharma. ‘
The current position in the team is proof of that. It is doubtful if there is any other Indian player in the last 10 or 15 years who has been given such an opportunity despite his failure. There are many in domestic cricket who deserve this support.
How many careers end without playing a single international match. In the Indian team, Rahul’s friend Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari were thrown out by the time they fell. KL The south-north lobby argument is also failing in front of Rahul. Because it has been a long time since Mumbai star Sarfaraz Khan started knocking on the door to the Test team and it has not been opened yet. Those advocating Rahul’s ouster point to the case of Sarfaraz and Shubman Gill.
∙ Everything is a boxing
KL Rahul is the player who broke into the Indian team in the 2014 Boxing Day Test. Trailing 2-0 in the series, India gave a chance against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The debutant’s contribution was 3 runs in the sixth. 1 run out in the second innings. As the series was lost, the team gave the rookie a chance in the last Test in Sydney in the opening which was his favorite position.
The youngster’s performance against the fireballs of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Ryan Harris caught the eye that day.
Rahul showed signs of improvement in the second match as he extended his defense to a century. Later, he became a regular opener by scoring centuries in Sri Lanka and West Indies. 2016 was Rahul’s best year in Tests. Scored 539 runs at an average of 60 runs from 7 matches.
In 2017, Rahul’s Test batting average was 45 at one stage. Now the average is 33.44. This is not an acceptable average from a player who has played 47 Tests. The average of this opener is 17.13 in 2022 and 12.67 this year. A total of 2642 runs were scored in 47 Tests. 7 centuries, 13 half-centuries.
Meanwhile, a poor performance in 2018 had pushed Rahul’s place in another Boxing Day Test. His best friend Mayank Agarwal was replaced by the opener. But soon Rahul returned to the team. Now the player is struggling to find runs again. India have dropped Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane when they are out of form. Pujara returned to the team with more strength after playing both domestic and county matches. Even though Rahane is playing domestic matches, the door seems almost closed for him. KL Rahul gets a freebie that none of them get. Even former star Venkatesh Prasad, who is also a local, has come forward against this bias. Fans are looking forward to the next move of the team management as Uri has taken the title of vice-captain in the Test team.
∙ 2018 IPL
It was his 2018 season for Punjab Kings that made KL Rahul feel like a big firework batter. It was a year full of Rahul with a quick half-century and a smash hit. He scored 659 runs at a strike rate of 159. All the famous bowlers took their cues from Rahul. After this season, the star value was on the rise. Rahul has been indispensable in Team India in limited overs matches as well.
But later this thirty-year-old could not bring out that performance. In the last 4 seasons, Rahul’s strike rate was 129, 138, 135, 136. Rahul has often been criticized for his slow pace when the opposition bowls, despite a seemingly impeccable strike rate. Rahul, who has 2 centuries for India in Twenty20, has not been able to give any memorable innings in recent times.
∙ Lack of confidence
Even when compared to Kohli, Rahul was not able to reach the seventh level of confidence that Virat wields. Even when he was in brilliant form in limited over cricket, the player used to lose his footing in crucial matches. It has been seen in all Twenty20 World Cups. It is that lack of confidence that hinders a return to form. Rahul was not a big success as a captain either. The situation was similar in the IPL. Rahul, an introvert by nature, failed to lead the team members enthusiastically. Even so, Rahul still has a role to play in ODI cricket. The number five’s performance will be an asset to the team in the World Cup year. That’s what the critics are demanding: play ODIs, not Tests and Twenty20s.
∙ Don’t want a break?
Indian players are playing continuously. IPL will come after the Australian series. And the next series. The 50-over World Cup will be held this year itself. Players need rest. Rahul needs a break from cricket or international cricket. Let’s wait and see if he will take it or the team will give it to him.
English Summary: Form Struggle Continues; What is next for K.L. Rahul?